(05 Sep 2022, 8:36 pm)Adrian wrote Single journey caps are useless with a hub and spoke model too. What should have been introduced here, if anything, is a £2 hopper fare. Because if I wanted to go from say Low Fell to the Metrocentre, it's still going to be £4 (or £8 return). By which point I'd have been daft not to use the £4.20 day ticket.

I largely agree with a mileage-based system too, because it also resolves the lack of short-hop fares that are available.

Yeah totally agreed about the hub and spoke. It just shows how stupid it is that someone from Low Fell can have a day trip to Middlesbrough, Teesside Park, Durham and the Arnison cheaper than a trip to the Metro Centre or Team Valley.

(05 Sep 2022, 8:41 pm)Adrian wrote It wouldn't take a while to implement with Ticketer. The technology already exists; you have mentioned Pop, which is recognised and can be used on all buses to pay for single, return or day tickets. Despite Stagecoach using Vix ETMs against the tide of everyone else moving to Ticketer.

I may be wrong here, but I'd say the barrier is the governance of any scheme. If the operators can't agree on a basis to implement it, then it'll never happen. Obviously the BSIP had visions of that becoming a reality, but we'll have to see what TNE have submitted to the Government in terms of how they're going to spend the pittance received.

Yeah also agreed, it's why I think the Pop would be the better option. I know this is a bit off topic now but why on earth Network One still exists is a mystery to me. It should've been absorbed into Pop brand ages ago imo with the ability to buy them on the Pop website or using the app, especially since there's no way to get them without using one of the big 3. There's too many weekly tickets and it's confusing as hell GNE Tickets (with overlaps (Gateshead Local / Buzz Zones / Regional etc)), Arriva Tickets (with overlaps (Triple Tickets / Coastliner / Regional etc)), Megarider, Pop, Metro Season, Smart Zones, Network One - it's no wonder the average punter is confused.

Agreed though, the lack of someone to manage it is the biggest problem, we need one body like TFL not the current mess of: Nexus, NEBus, Transport North East, NECA, Durham Council, Northumberland Council etc we have atm.